ANTHONY: MAJESTIC IN THE MORNING LIGHT, A GRAND DAME OVERLOOKING THE ATLANTIC, WITNESS AND HOST TO A CENTURY OF HISTORY.
♪ IT WAS 1873 WHEN THE OCEAN BOULEVARD HOTEL WAS FIRST BUILT ON THIS PROMONTORY WHERE THE KENNEBUNK RIVER GOES TO THE SEA.
A QUARTER-CENTURY LATER IT BURNED TO THE GROUND AND IN 1914 THE BREAKWATER COURT ROSE FROM HER ASHES.
AND THIS ATTRACTIVE YANKEE SOON DREW THE ATTENTION OF A SOUTHERN BELLE, THE ICONIC COLONY HOTEL OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA.
THE FAMILY WHO OWN THE COLONY THOUGHT THE BREAKWATER WOULD MAKE A PERFECT SUMMER COMPANION TO THEIR WINTER RESORT.
>> THEY NEEDED SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE STAFF, SO THEY PURCHASED A HOTEL TO BRING THEIR STAFF NORTH AND SOUTH.
ANTHONY: IN 1937 THE MARRIAGE WAS COMPLETE.
THE HOTELS HAVE REMAINED IN THE MOUNTAINS EMILY EVER SINCE.
TED VISITED WITH JUSTINA IN 2018.
IN MAINE WE MEET THE MANAGING PARTNER JOHN MARTIN WHO VALUES THE HISTORIC RELEVANCE OF THIS 105-YEAR-OLD LANDMARK.
>> WE ARE TRYING TO NOT PRESERVE HISTORY LIKE COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG BUT STAY TRUE TO THE NATURE OF A COLONY.
IS -- IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO STAY WITH IT.
RENOVATE AND MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL BUT TRUE TO WHAT IT IS.
ANTHONY: THAT MEANS SPENDING MORE THAN $1 MILLION EACH YEAR ON RENOVATIONS.
>> WE TRY TO DO SOMETHING ATTRACTIVE TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.
ORBITING, FLOORING, THEN OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A BUNCH OF BORING THINGS LIKE FOUNDATIONS AND HEAT TO SYSTEMS AND THINGS THAT HAVE TO GO ON.
ANTHONY: IF YOU NEED A CHANGE OF SCENE, KENNEBUNKPORT HAS PLENTY TO OFFER, SHOPPING, DINING, MORE SHOPPING AND A VIBRANT ARTISTIC IMMUNITY.
A GOOD DEAL REPRESENTED AT MAINE ART HILL DOWNTOWN.
IF THE SCULPTURES OUTSIDE DON’T GRAB YOUR ATTENTION -- >> THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
ANTHONY: PERHAPS THAT LANDSCAPES INSIDE ILL.
>> HOPEFULLY THEY WILL SEE A LOT OF TALENTS OF ARTISTS HAVE FROM OIL PAINTING TO GLASSBLOWING.
WE TRY TO SHOW A VARIETY OF MEDIUMS.
ANTHONY: BETWEEN THIS GALLERY, EXHIBIT SPACE AND MICRO GALLERIES AND REGULAR POP-UPS THERE ARE DIVERSE AND EVER CHANGING OFFERINGS.
THESE TWO ARE GALLERY MANAGERS.
>> WE WANT THEM TO SEE THE WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF THE ARTISTS.
IT IS VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SEE AND WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF CREATING.
>> WE ARE AS ACTIVELY INVOLVED AS PEOPLE WANT US TO BE.
WE ARE HAPPY TO WALK AROUND OR LET PEOPLE BROWSE.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE THE GALLERY AND ART AND ARTISTS WHICHEVER WAY THEY WOULD LIKE.
ANTHONY: TAKE IN THE VIEWS FROM A SEAL THE CHARTER ON THE PINEAPPLE CATCH.
>> THE OWNER HAD A DREAM, A SAILBOAT WENT BY WITH RED SALES, BLACK HULL AND THE PINEAPPLE ON AND IT FIT PERFECTLY BECAUSE THE PINEAPPLE IS A SYMBOL FOR HOSPITALITY.
ANTHONY: THIS CAN GET YOU UP RIVER OR OFFSHORE FOR SOME BREATHTAKING VIEWS OF THE COAST LINE.
A JOINT EVERY TIME FOR THIS CAPTAIN.
>> I LOVE THE ACT OF SAILING, MEETING PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE SAILING.
IT TOUCHES ME TO SEE PEOPLE WALK AWAY GOING IT WAS AMAZING.
♪ ANTHONY: PASSIOS RUN DEEP IN KENNEBUNKPORT FROM SAILORS TO ARTISTS TO RICKY DUMONT OF JAMAICA, THE CHEF AT THE COLONY HOTEL FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS.
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU LIKE TO MAKE THE MOST?
>> I LOVE WHAT I DO.
IT IS HARD TO JUST LIKE AND LOVE.
ANTHONY: FROM HIS SIGNATURE MUSSELS APPETIZER OR PORK CHOP, HE SAYS THE HOTEL WILL BRING PEOPLE HIS -- BRING PEOPLE.
HIS FOOD WILL KEEP THEM.
>> IF THE FOOD IS NOT RIGHT YOU WILL FEEL LIKE IT IS NOT WORKING.
I LIKE TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY WITH MY FOOD.
ANTHONY: PRIDE OF PURPOSE AND PRIDE OF PLACE, THE QUALITY EXHIBITS BOTH AS A HISTORIC GRAND HOTEL.
>> THESE HOTELS ARE A FOCAL POINT FOR THE AREA.
EVEN IF YOU DON’T GO TO THEM, DRIVING BY IS AN EXPERIENCE.
THAT IS PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS MAINTAINING THE COLONY AS AN ENTITY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THROUGHOUT THE TOWN.
SHAYNA: WITH SO MUCH COMPETITION IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY, TO HOTELS HAVE REMAINED INDEPENDENT AND FAMILY-OWNED SINCE THE 1940’S.
ANTHONY: JOHN MARTIN IS A PART OF THAT.
HIS MOTHER WENT INTO LABOR WITH HIM AT THE COLONY.
HIS UNCLE WAS THE GENERAL MANAGER S HE HAS FOLLOWED IN THE FOOTSTEPS.
THE KENNEBUNKPORT PROPERTY CLOSED UNTIL MAY.
THE OTHER ONE IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND.
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